Kate's Brief History

William and George Knoch were a couple of young go-getters who ran a cigar factory and tobacco shop in town. The Holland’s editor praises W...

One ad in Holland’s Business Directory promotes “Tom Ley’s Chinese Laundry” and it is the only one advertised, although it’s possible there ...

Naperville had two bankers listed in Holland’s 1886 Directory, both of which were also merchant tailors first. Last time, we looked at Georg...

While progress has replaced many of Naperville’s earliest structures, not only does George Reuss’s business building still stand but so does...

Naperville today has an abundance of drinking establishments and it was much the same in 1886. In fact, there were six saloons in the downto...